Here's what I was told by an Iranian Muslim -- what's located in the center at Mecca is the alter on which the sacrifice was to be made. Alters can be moved? I didn't ask a lot of questions. At the time (pre 9/11) I only had a passing interest in the story, so I wouldn't bet the farm on all of it ... but I do know the building in the center of Mecca is connected to Abraham. My concern is cultures have myths they live by -- myths that get incorporated in ways that aren't challenged. And near absolute authority is one of those... Each Imam has the power to sentence a person to death. This doesn't exist in modern religions. When UBL wanted permission to nuke the US, he didn't have to get "permission" beyond the equivalent of a parish priest. Frightening. It implies worse.
Too many ideas have gone unchallenged in the middle east - and within their xenophobic cultures, it's fine, well, fine until they come in contact with others. Then it's deadly. Lots of puzzle pieces to be put together - but this I know -- understanding the enemy opens up one more level we can fight them on...